Method of producing colored zipfastener elements



June 10, 1941. s. FREY 2,245,335

METHOD OF PRODUCING COLORED ZIP-FASTENER ELEMENTS Filed Oct. 5, 1936 Patented June 10, 1941 METHOD OF PRODUCING COLORED ZIP- FASTENER ELEMENTS Sim Frey, Ruschlikon, Switzerland Application October 5, 1936, Serial No. 104,138 In Switzerland November 27, 1935 3 Claims. (01. 204-23) This invention relates to methods for produc- .ng colored zip-fastener elements.

It is a common assumption that the closure generally termed zip-fastener would be still more used if it were possible to color the fastener elements in adaptation to the purpose they are serve without incurring an increase of cost.

It has already been proposed to make the faszener elements of artificial resinous substances .n order to obtain the desired color efiect in this way. Such elements can, however, not compete with metal elements in regard to quality and are iesides more expensive.

Several manufacturers have attempted to :olor each individual element electrolytically beore attaching the elements to the supporting fabric band whereby the manufacture is obviously rendered expensive, so that up to the present :olored zip-fasteners are not yet available on the market.

The object of the present invention is to prowide a method of producing colored metal zipastener elements which is superior to the known nethods in respect of economy of manufacture.

The method according to the present invenion resides in so working a metal strip that the 'astener elements are first formed integral with .he material constituting the strip and in a conlition ready to be colored, inorder to provide for :onvenient handling during coloring so as to give them a colored aspect difierent from that vhich the material of the work strip origiially had, for example, by coating the strips :lectrolytically.

By this means the coloring of zip-fastener elenents is made practical, that is by coating the ndividual fastener element contained in strips vith an artificial resin, or by coloring the strip' 'hemi cally or electrolytically.

As metal strips from which the integral series if fastener elements are to be produced, strips if steel, copper, brass, argentan and so forth enter into question, but preferably strips of iluminium and magnesium alloys are applied.

A modified form of the method according to he present invention consists in preliminarily l0 stamping out the strips that a longitudinal .HDPOItlIlg rib is left which serves as a'current up'ply conductor for the entire strips during :oloring the same electrolytically.

Due to this provision the electrolytic coloring rperation is rationalised and the coloring thus lbtained is of a uniform tone throughout.

In the accompanying drawing the method Lccording to the present invention is 'illustratively exemplified by showings of several forms of the fastener element containing strips for severing zip-fastener elements therefrom, as well as carrier 'means for the strips for coloring the same, inwhich Fig. 1 is a plan view showing a form of a metal strip containing fastener element;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of another form of the Strip;

Fig. 3 shows an elevation of a carrier device with a metal strip wound thereon;

Fig. 4 shows a. cross section of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view of a detail on a larger scale;

Fig. 6 is a view of another detail;

Fig. 7 shows an elevation of a modification of the carrier device;

Fig. 8 shows a section on. the line VIIIVIII in Fig. '1;

Fig. 9 is a view of a further detail;

Fig, 10 shows an elevation of a cross-shaped carrier device, and

Fig. 11 is a section of Fig. 10 along one of the diagonals.

The metal strips are so stamped out in accordance with the profile of the fastener element to be produced that they contain the fastener elements integrally with the working material in substantiallyfinished condition, thereby forming what may be termed a blanked out" strip.

The individual fastener elements are integrally connected with the working material by tongues left in the strips.

The fiat fastener elements are colored when still integral with the working material, 1. e, while connected to the tongues, whereupon the latter are removed and then the individual elements thus obtained are attached to the band. The disposition of the tongues is so chosen that, for example, the portions of the transverse members, that is, the attaching jaws of the elements, from which the tongues are removed, present a non-colored surface only exactly at the place where the elements bear against the band after having been pressed into engagement therewith, so that it appears to the eye that the whole zipfastener element is colored.

In the example of the metal strip, as shown in Fig. 1, which is blanked out by stamping so as to form fastener elements therein, a supporting rib it i provided along each side of which, to the left and right in this figure, a row of fastener elements is arranged integral with the working material. The bodies I of the fastener elements are joined by means of two limbs 2 with the bead spacing of the fastener elements of the two rows.

These holes are subsequently caused to temporarily cooperate with a driving member for feeding the blanked out strip.

In the example depicted in Fig. 2, with the carrier rib it two rows of fastener element are connected by tongues 5, the elements being turned through an angle of 90 as regards Fig. 1. The lastpair of fastener elements of each row is shown to be severed from the rib ID.

This mode of arranging the fastener elements onthe carrier rib, that is this manner of blanking out the metal strip renders possible, as compared with the immediately preceding example, to double up the production of fastener elements of the stamping device, while the number of strokes of the device rrnnains the same.

In Figs. 3 and 4, numeral l2 designates a carrier drum formed by a metal cage, a mounting shaft being arranged centrally of the drum and carrier bars I! divided about the circumference of the same. In these bars bolts ii are screwed which are provided with reduced outer ends l8.

. On the drum l2, which is mounted on a rack, not

shown, the blanked out strip l1 arriving from the stamping machine is wound contiguously in one and the same working operation. This blanked out strip, which, forthe sake of clearness, is shown on the drawing in its original condition (without having fastener elements formed therein by stamping), is wound in helical shape on the drum I! so that the holes ll engage over the corresponding ends I6 ofthe bolts I 5. The drum I2 is turned (by expedients not shown) in the corresponding direction, so that the winding of the blanked out strip is effected commensurate with its feedmovement through the stamping machine. On the drum being completely wound, the wound on portion of the blanked out strip is cut off. The end l6 of some of the retaining bolts I5 is provided with a screw thread, as indicated in Fig. 6, to the effect that the blanked out strip II is secured to the respective bolt after slidingly engaging thereover by a screw nut l6 and i thus locked to the drum l2.

For the purpose of coloring the blanked out strip H, i. e. the fastener elements, electrolytically, th drum l2 inclusive of the blanked out strip I! wound thereon is then removed from the rack and consecutively submerged into a number of treatment baths. During this treatment the work blank carrier rib ID, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, serves as a current supply conductor, a conductive connection being arranged between the rib and the drum shaft l3 while the latter in turn is connected with one of the line conductors, and the vat itself provides the second line conductor.

The blanked out strip is conductively connected with the retaining bolts IE5 at the points of engagement therewith. The strip engages with the retaining bolt i5 by means of annular contacting surfaces on the underside of the strip which are concentric with the holes I I.

On the termination of the coloring treatment of the blanked out strip in the vats, that is after the strip has assumed the desired color, the strip is wound of! the drum l2 and the fastener elements are detached from the strip by punching. This is eflected by severing the fastener elements at their limbs 2 where they were previously connected with the carrier rib III by the respective tongue 5. In consequence thereof, but small non-colored surfaces remain on the fastener element which are scarcely noticeable after the fastener element is attached to the fabric band.

In the Figs. 7 and 8, by I! a metal carrier stirrup is designated the two arms of which are provided on opposite sides with bearing pins l8 and rolls 20 which, as shown in Fig. 9, carry tap bolts II on their circumference. About the roll II arranged on one side of the carrier stirrup It a blanked out strip I1 is passed in serpentineor zig-zag-shape, as shown in Fig. 7, so that the strip engages with the bolts 2! by means of corresponding holes formed therein. In a similar manner, about the rolls 20 on the opposite side of the carrier stirrup ll a blanked out strip I1 is slung which contains stamped out fastener elements like the blanked out strip l I. The two groups of rolls 20 present are so staggered that the parallel portions of the two strip [1 and I1 placed thereon are offset relative to one another. The individual carrier stirrups l8 are adapted to be set on contact members provided on the various vats by means of terminal studs IS. The rolls 20 in turn provide contact members for the strips.

In Figs. 10 and 11, by 22 a metal carrier of cross-shape is designated the four arms of which are provided on opposite sides with bolts I9 and rollers 20. About the rolls 20 arranged on one side of the carrier 22 a blanked out strip i1 is slung in spiral-shape, as shown in Fig. 10, so as to interengage with the bolts 2| on the rolls 20. In a like manner, on the group of rolls 20 disposed on the opposite side of the carrier 22, which group is staggered relative to the former group of rolls, a blanked out strip l1 containing fastener elements is placed. The carrier 22 is adapted to be set on contact members provided on the various vats by means of terminal studs 22.

The latter two examples of stirrup carrier means are distinguished as requiring relatively very little space.

The blanked out strip may, for example, consist of iron, steel, copper, brass or argentan which materials are suitable for being colored by means of bath liquids passed through by electric current. Aluminium or alloys of aluminium and magnesium are particularly well suited for this purpose. In using such materials the coloring as such is not obtained by action of electric current, the latter having but the effect of preliminarily treating the blanked out strip so as to form a layer of metal hydroxide thereon with the property of so tospeak absorbing liquids and thus also liquid pigments. Due to setting the carrier rib formed in. the blanked out strip on separate contacting surfaces on. the carrier device used for the treatment, a uniform flow of current through the fastener elements is ensured. In this way the surface treatment of the blanked out strip is rendered uniform particularly owing to the fact that the strip is submerged in the bath liquid freely accessible for the latter by being supported only at the contacting surfaces.

The arrangement and the shaping of the fastener elements in the blanked out strip may also be such that, instead of but one or two, a greater number of elements can be severed from the carrier rib by punching the strips at one and the same point.

I do not limit myself to the particular size, or shape, of the zip-fastener elements nor the particular size, shape, number or arrangement of parts of the device for carrying out the method of producing these elements, as shown and described, all of which may be varied without going beyond the scope of my invention as shown, described and claimed.

What I claim is:

1. In a method of producing electrolytically colored metal slide fastener elements clampingly engageable with a support in straddling relation thereto, the steps comprising shaping a strip of metal into a plurality of elements each having a pair of limbs adapted to clamp onto a support for use, said elements being fully formed except at the inner faces of the extremities of their limbs, the inner faces of said limb extremities being connected with a continuous self-supporting carrier rib constituted by a longitudinally extending central portion of the material of said strip and having connecting portions for the individual pairs of limb extremities, said connecting portions merging integrally into said limb extremities, punching holes in said rib at points adjacent said connecting portions for facilitating electrical connection to said rib throughout its length, applying an electrolytic coloring substance to said strip, connecting an electric current to said strip by pins extending into said punched holes to substantially uniformly distribute the electrolytic fiow to the. elements throughout the length of said strip for uniformly electrolytically coloring all of said elements, and removing said elements from said strip by severing same at the limb extremities, whereby the only portions of said elements not uniformly colored are the inner faces of the extremities 'which in use are clampingly pressed against a support and therefore are invisible.

2. In a method of producing electrolytically colored planar metal slide fastener elements clampingly engageable with a support in straddling relation thereto, the steps comprising stamping out a metal strip into a plurality of elements each having a pair of limbs adapted to clamp onto a support for use, said elements being fully formed except at the inner faces of the extremities of their limbs, the inner faces of said limb extremities being connected with a continuous self-supporting carrier rib constituted by a longitudinal portion of the material of said strip and having connecting portions for the individual pairs of said limb extremities, said connectlng portions merging integrally into said limb extremities, and the planes of said elements extending parallel to said rib, punching holes in said rib at points adjacent said connecting portions simultaneously with said stamping, said holes serving to accommodate supporting pins forcoiling said strip in timed relation to its feed I movement through said stamping zone and for subsequently facilitating electrical connection to said rib at points distributed throughout its length, coiling saidstrip into helical convolutions by driving engagement with said punched holes by said pins from the interior of said coil so that said planes of the elements extend tangentially to the circumference of said coil, applying an electrolytic coloring substance to said strip, connecting an electric circuit to said strip at said holes by said pins extending into said holes to.

substantially uniformlydistribute the electrolytic flow to the elements throughout the length of the strip for uniformly electrolytically coloring all of said elements, and removing said elements from 'saidstrip by severing same at the limb extremities, whereby the only portions of said elements not uniformly colored are the inner faces of the extremities which in use are clampingly visible.

3. In a method of producing electrolytical colored metal slide fastener elements clampingly engageable with a support in straddling relation thereto, the steps "comprising shaping a metal strip into a plurality of elements each having a pair of limbs adapted to clampingly engage a support for use, said elements being fully formed expressed against a support and therefore are incept at the extremities of their limbs, the inner faces of said limb extremities being connected with a continuous self-supporting carrier rib constituted'by a longitudinal portion of the material of .said strip and having connecting portions for the individual pairs of said limb extremities, said a connecting portions having transversely projecting elements engaging ends integrally merging in said limb extremities, punching holes insaid rib at points adjacent the connecting portions to facilitate handling the strip in an electrolytic coloring process on pins extending into said holes and for connecting an electric circuit to said strip at points throughout its length to render the electrolytic flow to said elements substantially uniform throughout the length of the strip,applying an electrolytic coloring substance to said strip, connecting an electric circuit to said rib through said pins and holes, and removing the elements from said connecting portions by breaking free the areas of connection with said connecting portions. the integral connections with the connecting portions being the areas of breaking of said material required.

I SIM FREY. 

